Students at Highline High to Rally for Healthier Hearts with ‘Red Out’ Friday

Highline High School will turn red this Friday (Dec. 14) when Pirate fans hold their first “Red Out” in the spirit of raising awareness about heart disease, our nation’s No. 1 killer, and raising donations for the American Heart Association.

The Red Out will be held during the Quad basketball games versus Renton High School from 3:30 – 10:00pm at Highline’s Main Gym.

“Heart disease is a growing issue that almost no one hears about,” said senior ASB Treasurer and event organizer Austin Sita. “Participation in the Red Out gives us the chance to educate and raise awareness to our community and students about heart disease.”

Students, players, cheerleaders, and fans of the TEAM will all wear red for the game. The Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department will be giving free blood pressure checks from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. as spectators enter the building. The American Heart Association will have dummies so participants can practice hands-only CPR. Two of Highline’s staff members will be speaking at half-time about their experiences with heart disease and how education is so important to fighting the disease.

During the game, students will be collecting donations for the American Heart Association and educating game-goers about heart disease prevention and warning signs. Game attendees are encouraged to participate by contributing to the purchase of red T-shirts, which are available for a $10 donation to the American Heart Association. The shirts are available for pre-order and also the evening of the game.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading killer of Americans, leading to one death every 39 seconds. That’s 2,200 women, men, and children per day. Research funded by the American Heart Association has yielded major advances, such as the heart-lung machine, CPR/ AED, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgery and surgical techniques to repair heart defects and save lives. Currently the heart association has $4.9 million invested in research projects throughout the state of Washington. The American Heart Association is also dedicated to heart disease and stroke prevention by teaching all Americans, from children to adults, the value of healthy lifestyles and providing them with tools to make positive lifestyle changes.